Chemotherapy then debaulking

[kadabra12]

I was diagnosed with OC stage 3C in early 2020. I had my debaulking operation followed by Chemotherapy which was Carboplatin/Paclitaxel and was in remission for almost 2 years. I have now found out I have an abdominal tumour and also a tumour on my bowelso surgery was discussed which involves bowel resection with temporary stoma and stents from my kidneys. In the meeting yesterday my case was discussed and they are now looking at starting chemo 1st then the surgery then more chemotherapy. I see my oncologist on Thurs but today I'm thinking how this all works. They have said if I have chemo 1st then the operation will be less complicated but I'm thinking if I have chemo first what are the risks with infection and also healing due to the low white blood cells during chemo. Any advise please and questions I should ask my oncologist.

Thank you

[Kjpip]

Hi Kadabra, so sorry to hear you've found some new tumours. I would say that if your doctors are recommending chemo before the surgery then that's the best course of action. If the initial 3 rounds of chemo can shrink the tumours then they will not have to remove so much tissue etc when they perform the surgery, which means your body will recover better.

I had 3 rounds of chemo before my TAH and omentectomy, then 3 further rounds of chemo afterwards. My operation happened 4 weeks after the 3rd round of chemo, so my white blood cells were back up before the op, and the chemo started up again 4 weeks after the operation so I was well on the way to recovery before being battered by chemo again! I personally didn't find the recovery from surgery any worse because of the chemo or vice versa. The 4th round of chemo was similar to my first in terms of nausea and feeling pretty rubbish for the first week (whereas my other 4 treatments were a little easier) but I think that was only partly due to the fact I was still recovering from the surgery, and partly that there had been an 8 week gap between chemo treatments and my body wasn't 'used to' the chemo any more.

Good luck with it all and wishing you all the best xx

[kadabra12 in reply to Kjpip]

Thank you so much for your reply. You have pretty much answered my questions and I always think it's better to ask someone who has been through all this themselves as well as specialist advice. Thanks again hope all is OK with yourself

[Kjpip in reply to kadabra12]

You're welcome, I'm glad I've been helpful!

[thejoannabell]

I had three rounds of chemo before debulking, and then three rounds after. The timeline of chemo/surgery/chemo was similar to Kjpip. I definitely think chemo first made the surgery easier. The chemo was rough, but I actually felt much better after the first three rounds because the tumors were causing so much pain and discomfort.